Nelson & Kim, Balestier

Trusted Puppy Shop, AVS Licensed & Verified

Item: Curious Tails
Rating: 5
Author: Andrew Mak

4.9 from 65 Google reviews

Curious Tails is run by two people you will actually meet: Nelson and Kim, AVS licensed (AS24J00046), two years in and now homing more than 200 puppies a year, with a 5.0-star Google rating built on one habit: honest breed matching over quick sales.

WhatsApp us Meet Nelson & Kim

Licence AS24J00046, verifiable on the AVS public registry in under a minute.

AVS licensed · AS24J00046
65 five-star reviews
2+ years in Balestier

AVS licensed pet shop Singapore: caregiver hands gently holding an apricot Cavapoo puppy in a bright, well-kept space

Est. 2024

4.9 on Google

What does 'AVS licensed pet shop' actually mean?

An AVS licensed pet shop is a business licensed by the Animal and Veterinary Service, a unit of the National Parks Board, to keep and sell pets in Singapore. The licence requires welfare inspections of how animals are housed and sold, mandatory buyer-suitability screening through the Pet Purchase Declaration, AVS-recognised staff training, and annual renewal.

Curious Tails holds licence AS24J00046. The rest of this page is what those requirements look like in practice, from the two people who answer for them.

Read the AVS licensing conditions

The licence requires

Welfare inspections of housing and sale conditions
Pet Purchase Declaration before every sale
AVS-recognised training for the people running the shop
Annual renewal, never a one-time stamp

Two years of receipts

five-star Google reviews: 65
years in Balestier: 2+
breeds, matched by lifestyle: 7
starter kit with every puppy: $500+

Meet Nelson and Kim

Curious Tails is not a chain with a duty roster; it is Nelson and Kim, in the shop, most days. The same two people who help you choose a breed are the ones who drive the free home delivery and setup, assemble your playpen, and answer your WhatsApp three weeks later.

Two years and hundreds of families in, the working method has not changed: ask about the customer's daily routine first, and only then talk breeds. Who is home between 8am and 6pm decides more about the right dog than any photo does.

That approach costs us the occasional quick sale. It is also why the review column reads the way it does.

Meeting the puppies before deciding: family sitting on a mat while an apricot Cavapoo approaches at its own pace

We’d Rather Talk You Out of the Wrong Breed

The story we are known for: a couple came in set on a Maltipoo. Both work 8am to 6pm, nobody home in the day, no helper. Maltipoos need more company than that, so we recommended a Cavapoo instead, similar warmth, noticeably more independent, knowing it might cost us the sale.

They took the Cavapoo home, she settled into the playpen we had set up, and Andrew Mak's five-star review of that honest steer still does more for us than any advertisement could.

If you are not sure what fits your routine, start with the two-minute breed selector, or just message us your typical weekday. We will tell you straight.

Lifestyle-first matching

1. Your daily routine: who is home, and when
2. Your space: HDB, condo, or landed
3. Your experience: first dog or returning owner
4. Your energy preference: active or calm
5. Only then: the breed

What the Licence Makes Us Do, and Why You Benefit

Most shops wear 'AVS licensed' as a badge. Here is what it obliges us to do, requirement by requirement.

What the Licence Makes Us Do, and Why You Benefit
Licence requirement	What it means for you
Welfare inspections	How our puppies are housed, fed, and sold is inspected against AVS standards, not our own claims
Pet Purchase Declaration before every sale	We must assess whether a buyer is ready for a dog; nobody walks out with a puppy on impulse
Health, vaccination, and microchip standards	Every puppy goes home vet-checked, vaccinated, dewormed, and microchipped. Our partner vet is Vets For Pets, and if a puppy falls sick within 5 days of going home, we help nurse it until it recovers
AVS-recognised training for shop operators	The advice you get comes from people trained in welfare and animal management, not just retail
Annual renewal	The licence is re-earned every year; AS24J00046 stays searchable on the public registry

The full requirements are public: see the AVS pet shop licence requirements and the licensing conditions, including the buyer-suitability rule.

The Pet Purchase Declaration: We Screen You Too

Here is the part of licensing most buyers never hear about: before any sale, we are required to assess whether you are suited to own a pet. The Pet Purchase Declaration covers your housing type, whether your household agrees, and whether you realistically have the time and means for a dog.

It can feel odd being on the receiving end of questions when you came to buy. But it is the single best rule in the licence: it protects the puppy from an impulsive home, and it protects you from a decision your household has not actually made.

We would ask most of those questions anyway; the lifestyle-matching habit came before the form did.

Licensed pet shop standards in practice: apricot Cavapoo puppy calm during a gentle stethoscope health check

Come meet the puppies before you decide

2 Balestier Road #01-701. Weekdays 12pm to 6pm, weekends 10am to 6pm. WhatsApp first so the right puppies are ready for you.

WhatsApp us

Why the Licensed Shop Is Also the Cheaper One Here

People assume licensed means expensive, and unlicensed 'deals' online feed that assumption. Our pricing breaks it: from $3,288 all-in, typically $500 to $2,000 below the big-name licensed shops, with the $500+ starter kit, delivery, setup, and the training lesson already inside. The reason is unglamorous: we spend almost nothing on marketing, and the same AVS standards bind every licensed shop regardless of ad budget.

One protective note, said once: a puppy $500 to $1,000 below even our range, from a Carousell or Telegram seller with no licence to show, is usually smuggled, and buyers have been fined $7,000 for purchasing one. The maths and the case files are in what smuggled puppies really cost buyers.

The full number-by-number picture is on our transparent puppy pricing page.

Same standards, different overheads

From $3,288 all-in, everything included
Typically $500 to $2,000 below big-name shops
Near-zero ad spend, passed on to you
Growth by reviews and referrals

Aftercare: What Happens After You Buy

The sale is the middle of our job, not the end. Delivery day includes the in-home walkthrough of the 30+ item starter kit, your free AVS-certified training lesson gets booked into week one, and our WhatsApp stays open for care questions, free, indefinitely.

And the promise we are asked about most: if your puppy falls sick within the first 5 days of going home, bring them back to the shop and we will nurse them ourselves.

Most of the questions new owners would ask at 11pm are answered before we leave your home; the rest get a real reply from the two people who matched you with your puppy.

Well-socialised puppies at an AVS licensed shop: apricot Cavapoo and cream Bichonpoo playing gently on a mat

Google Reviews · 4.9 ★

What Families Say

65 Google reviews, 4.9 average, and counting.

Joel Yap
9 months ago · Local Guide
A random brunch at Balestier and otw to get tau sar piah, in the end, brought this doggo home. It has been two weeks, many shitty poopy moments but the cuteness on innocent doggo face wipe away all the stinky part of a pet owner. Nelson has been super helpful to answer questions genuinely and without hesitations. Applaud the patience rendered. Highly recommended, you can board the doggo when you’re overseas with a very small fee.
Read on Google
pei long zheng
2 days ago
Had such a wonderful experience bringing home our little Cavapoo from Curious Tails in Balestier. Nelson and Kim made us feel right at home and handled everything professionally and couldn't have been more helpful. The puppy came home healthy and vet-checked, which gave us real peace of mind. They even arranged to deliver our pup to our home and helped with all the paperwork. Couldn't be happier, thank you Kim and Nelson!
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Po Xian Lee
Edited 2 weeks ago · Local Guide
Our search for the perfect Bichonpoo ended the moment we stepped into Curious Tails's Balestier store. Nelson was so patient with all our questions and gave us great value with everything bundled in and surprised us with loads of free extras. Our pup was clean, well-socialised, and full of energy when we brought it home. Everything from the health records to the paperwork was handled seamlessly. Thank you Curious Tails for such a wonderful start to pet parenthood!
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Ryan Li
a month ago
What a lovely experience picking up our new Cavapoo from Curious Tails in Balestier. Throughout the visit, Nelson and Kim had the best prices we came across and gave us a wonderful bundle of complimentary items, and never made us feel pressured. The puppy came home healthy and vet-checked, which gave us real peace of mind. Hands down the best puppy store we found, highly recommended.
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Jayan Arunasalam
2 months ago
Finding a healthy Cavapoo puppy for sale in Singapore felt daunting until we walked into Curious Tails in Balestier. Nelson made us feel right at home and made it all feel seamless and professional and sent us home with a bag full of free gifts. The full vaccination was already covered, which showed how much they care. Thank you Nelson @ Curious Tails for such a wonderful start to pet parenthood! 🤩
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mei siang gan
2 months ago
Finding a healthy Cavapoo puppy for sale in Singapore felt daunting until we walked into Curious Tails in Balestier. Nelson was kind, attentive, and made sure the pricing was clear and honest. We loved the aftercare support; you can tell they truly care about the pups and the owners. Being an AVS-licensed store, everything felt trustworthy and above board. Hands down the best puppy store we found, highly recommended.
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Andrew Mak
2 months ago
Couldn't recommend Curious Tails in Balestier enough after bringing home our Cavapoo. Nelson and Kim gave us a clear care routine to follow, and clearly loves what they do. We loved the aftercare support; you can tell they truly care about the pups and the owners. Will absolutely return and recommend without hesitation.
Read on Google
Jenn Tan
4 months ago · Local Guide
Had such a wonderful experience at Curious Tails! From the moment I stepped in, Kim and Nelson were incredibly warm, patient, and genuinely passionate about what they do. They took the time to walk me through everything and made sure I felt confident and informed every step of the way. The puppies were well taken care of - clean, active, and clearly loved. I really appreciated the transparency with health checks and all the details provided, which gave me a lot of peace of mind. What stood out the most was the aftercare support - you can tell they truly care about both the pets and the owners, not just making a sale. I got my furkid from them on the very day in 2025, and she has brought so much joy into my life. I’m really glad I chose Curious Tails. Highly recommend Curious Tails to anyone looking for a trustworthy and caring pet shop. 🐶💖
Read on Google

See all 65 reviews →

Check us, or any shop, on the AVS registry

Every legitimate pet shop in Singapore appears on the AVS public registry of licensed pet shops. Search the shop's name or licence number before paying any deposit; the check takes about 60 seconds, and a seller who is not listed is not licensed, whatever the listing claims.

Curious Tails is listed under licence AS24J00046. Check us first; an honest shop never minds. For the red flags and the full walkthrough, see our step-by-step licence verification guide.

Search the AVS public registry

The 60-second check

Open the AVS public registry
Search the shop name or licence number
Not listed = not licensed, full stop

Full walkthrough: step-by-step licence verification guide

Cited expertise

If the breeder doesn't ask you any questions about you and the life that you're going to provide for one of their animals, they simply don't care. Red flag.

VanessaProfessional dog groomer and pet educator
Girl With Her Dogs (YouTube), 00:14:23Quoted with attribution. Not affiliated with Curious Tails.

About Us, Answered

What is your AVS licence number?

AS24J00046, and you can search it on the AVS public registry of licensed pet shops any time. Our ACRA company registration, 202420075D, is a separate identifier; for a pet shop, the AVS licence is the one that counts.

What does the Pet Purchase Declaration ask me?

It checks that you are genuinely ready for a dog: your housing type, whether the household agrees, and whether you have the time and means to care for a pet. Licensed shops must complete it before any sale. It protects the puppy, and honestly, it protects you too.

Why are you cheaper than bigger licensed shops if the standards are the same?

Because the standards are the same but the overheads are not. The bigger names carry heavy marketing budgets that come back through the puppy price; we spend almost nothing on ads and grow on reviews and referrals instead. Same licence, smaller megaphone.

What support do we get after buying?

The in-home walkthrough of all 30+ starter-kit items, a free first lesson with an AVS-certified trainer, free care support on WhatsApp for as long as you need it, and the 5-day promise: if your puppy falls sick within the first 5 days home, bring them back and we nurse them ourselves.

Can we visit before deciding?

Please do. We are at 2 Balestier Road #01-701, open weekdays 12pm to 6pm and weekends 10am to 6pm. WhatsApp us first so we can have the right puppies ready for the breeds you are considering.

How do I check that any pet shop is really licensed?

Search the shop's name on the AVS public registry of licensed pet shops; every legitimate shop in Singapore is listed there. If a seller is not on that registry, they are not licensed, whatever their listing says.